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The new Panasonic Lumix S5 II is a full-frame hybrid camera that can handle both stills and video without sacrificing one for the other. Its updated AF system is more responsive than ever and its 30fps burst shooting is quicker too.
The S5 II has an advanced phase-detect AF system with 779 points across the entire frame and 315 contrast-detect ones. It also boasts a new smaller 1-area AF option for tracking a single subject more precisely.
Best Features
The Lumix S5 II is Panasonic’s latest full-frame camera, combining improved autofocus performance with high-quality video capabilities. It uses a new 779-point phase detection autofocus system that’s the first on a LUMIX camera.
It also continues the L mount partnership with Leica and Sigma, ensuring that it works with the latter’s lenses. The autofocus system itself also benefits from a combination of contrast and phase technologies to provide better tracking of moving subjects, while syncro scan helps to improve the accuracy of focus with flickering light sources.
The S5 II can capture up to 6K 30p video and has a new electronic viewfinder with a 3in, 1840k-dot display. It’s mounted on a side-hinged, fully-articulated mechanism that allows it to flip and twist to almost any angle. It can also tilt vertically, making it more comfortable to shoot in bright sunlight or with a low-angle lens.
Best Uses
Panasonic’s latest full-frame camera is a fantastic tool for both photographers and video creators alike. While it may be a little pricey for entry-level photographers, it’s worth it for its feature set and performance. The price is still considerably lower though than other brands’ models which have fewer features to boast about.
The S5 II features a 24MP full-frame sensor and is accompanied by a new image processor. Its sensor includes phase detection elements for autofocus, which should make it more responsive and accurate than its predecessor.
While the S5 II’s AF isn’t as fast or sensitive as competitors, it does a good job of detecting and focusing on subjects. It can recognise Human, Face/Eye or Animal+Human subjects, and you can instruct the system to select one as a priority.
It also has an 8-way joystick for selecting the focus point, a welcome improvement on the 4-way units on older Lumix models. You can use this to adjust the size and position of the focus area, as well as move it around using buttons or a touch screen.
The S5 II’s video capabilities are a real treat, with the ability to record 4K 60p footage in both pixel-to-pixel and XAVC-S formats. It also supports a range of popular video assist features, including Luminance Spot Metering, Waveform/VectorScope, Anamorphic Desqueeze Display and Synchro Scan.
Final Words
The S5 II is also Panasonic’s first camera to feature phase-detection AF, and I can say without reservation that this has made a huge difference. Whereas the contrast-based DFD autofocus on previous LUMIX cameras sometimes struggled to pick out subjects and faces in video, the new phase-detection autofocus on the S5 II did a much better job at focusing in video.
The other big news is that the Lumix S5 II uses a new processor. This is the first product of Panasonic’s L2 co-development project with Leica, and we can expect to see more mirrorless cameras with this processing engine in the future.
With this new processor, the S5 II can capture 10-bit 4:2:2 6K30 video and 10-bit 4:2:2 4K60 video. It can also record in a range of other formats including NTSC, UHD and Full-frame HD. Plus, it supports the use of a variety of lenses. All of this makes the S5 II a great choice for both stills and video production, and it’s Highly Recommended!
